USA – NEW, FAST procedure of obtaining visas for AmCham members (U.S. Visa Premium Processing)
Starting from January 1st, 2008 American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section implemented a system to expedite the U.S. visa application processes for AmCham members. The procedure, called “U.S. Premium Processing” will allow to obtain visas within 5 business days or less.
Premium Processing includes the following steps:
- AmCham member company representative completes the U.S. visa application form for the employee and brings it to the AmCham office;
- AmCham reception staff affixes AmCham stamp to application form and returns stamped form to the member company representative;
- AmCham member company transfers the stamped application form to Pony Express, who delivers it to the U.S. Embassy.
AmCham members will be allocated special time for the interview. AmCham members can also apply for two-year visas.
This program is intended only for full-time professional management-level employees of AmCham member companies.
This new procedure is also available for family members wishing to travel with the applicant.
All applicants with scientific or technical background should still present Form DS 157, resume and the list of publications along with other documents for visa. The average period for visa processing of such applications is about 3 weeks (See CG Newsletter #3 December 2007).
More detailed information including guidelines, a sample company letter and a link to the application form can be found on the AmCham website.
Great Britain – new procedure for UK visa application
On February 15th, 2008 the British Embassy introduced a new online application service for visa applicants. From this date all applications should be submitted from the following website: www.visa4UK.fco.gov.uk
Application form should be completed in English. After full completion of the application form, the applicant will electronically submit the information via Internet to the server in the UK. The system will automatically generate a unique reference number, which will be sent on the applicant's email address.
The on-line system allows to book an appointment to attend the Visa Application Center at one’s convenience and proposes to come to the Visa Application Center for submitting the documents approximately on the 3 - 4 day starting from on-line application.
At the Visa Application Center the applicant submits his unique reference number, the printed out copy of the application form, his passport and supporting documentation, pays the relevant Consular fee and has his biometric data collected. T
The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes.
Visa applications of most types are still processed by the Consular Section of the British Embassy from 4 to 6 working days after biometric data collection.
Great Britain – new "score system" for obtaining work permits, student and work visas
In March 2008 Great Britain is starting to implement a new "score system" for issuing work permits, student and work visas for foreign nationals (NON EU).
These rules were worked out on the basis of Australian system, where applicants for work visa are evaluated by scores, added for qualification, education, experience, etc.
This system will act in the British Consulates worldwide within visa application processing for work permits, student and work visas. This system wil not apply for tourist visa. (RIA "Novosti").
Israel - bilateral cancellation of visa regime
On March 21st, 2008 during the visit of Sergey Lavrov, the head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Israel, the bilateral agreement on visa regime cancellation between Russia and Israel has been signed. The agreement will come into force not early than September 2008, starting from that date the citizens of both countries will cross the borders holding only valid passport for travelling abroad.
The Government of Israel initiated cancellation of visa regime in order to increase the tourist flow from Russia.
Shengen Agreement – 9 new members
On December 21st , 2007 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta joined Shengen Agreement and started issuing visas valid for travelling to all countries, members of Shengen Agreement.
To the moment the Consulates of the new members of Shengen Agreement work stable and issue visas in time.
The procedures of issuing visas at the Consulates did not change within joining the Shengen Agreement. Most
Consulates began to demand the confirmation of financial support during the applicant’s stay in the country (bank statements, traveller's cheques etc).
Switzerland joins Shengen Agreement starting from November 1st, 2008
Starting from November 1st , 2008 Switzerland joins Shengen Agreement and starts issuing visas valid for travelling to all countries of the Shengen Agreement.
Serbia – unilateral cancelation of visa regime for Russian citizens
On March 7th, 2008 the Government of the Republic of Serbia signed the unilateral agreement with the Government of the Russian Federation on visa regime cancellation.
This Agreement comes into force in 30 days. Starting from April 7, 2008 Russian citizens can cross the borders of Serbia holding only valid passport for travelling abroad, and can stay legal on the territory of Serbia for the period of up to 90 days.
Belorussia – cancellation of stamps (permissions) for travelling abroad
The President of Belorussia Alexander Lukashenko has abolished the procedure of stamping the passport’s of Belorussian citizens with the permission stamp for travelling abroad.
Instead of this stamp the Belorussian Border Control sets up a database which contains the information on Belorussian citizens, whose traveling abroad is temporarily limited. This database is functioning from January 1st, 2008.
The stamp has been existing in Belorussia for several years operating as a passport for travelling abroad.
